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She tried to pretend she hadn’t seen them, but Samantha’s mother didn’t look at her as much as she put her in a visual tractor beam. The only way to get away from them was to turn around in their faces and bolt. Natalia wasn’t nearly energized enough for that kind of move.
“Buenos dias!” Samantha’s mother greeted warmly. “We wanted to thank you again for celebrating with us last night, mija.”
The hug came in hard and fast and undodgeable. Natalia summoned every ounce of composure she had left and returned the intimate gesture.
“Of course, it was an honor to share such a special occasion with your family.” To her surprise, Natalia realized she meant it. What the hell was happening to her? It was like Samantha’s family was programmed to wear her down. “What you two have is… something special. You are very lucky.”
“Oh, it wasn’t luck,” Samantha’s father chimed in. “It takes nerve to take a chance on a boy from a farm with nothing to offer but his love and loyalty.” He smiled at his wife. “But I knew she was the only gal for me. So, I worked hard, and we built a good life together.”
Samantha’s mother nodded. “A true partnership isn’t always easy, but if the love is real, you make it work. Compromise, forgive each other’s faults, and choose each day to appreciate what you have,” she said it like a mother handing down advice to a child about to get married.
Natalia nodded along politely as Samantha’s parents spoke, even as something inside of her dismantled. She wasn’t used to such openly affectionate couples, let alone receiving gentle relationship advice from near strangers. It was too much.
“I know Samantha cares deeply for you,” her father added, his expression somewhere between sweet and sheepish. “We’ve been waiting a long time to see her happy again.” He put his hand to his chest like it was too full to contain. “What she’s been through.” He waved away the emotions that had surged into his voice and turned his eyes glossy. “Well,” he cleared his throat, “she deserves to dance again.”
Natalia was stunned into silence. Is this how regular families talked about relationships? She felt equal parts moved and bewildered. She didn’t have the tools for this. The experience.
“Finding the right partner takes patience and perseverance,” Samantha’s mother said, squeezing her husband’s hand. “But if it’s meant to be, you just know in your heart.”
Her father chuckled. “Oh yes, I knew Nilda was my destiny from the moment we met at a little county fair. One look at her smile and I was done for.”
Natalia observed the tender glance between them. She’d never witnessed up close the kind of easy intimacy they shared. It seemed... nice. Foreign, but nice.
“We’ll let you get ready for the farewell breakfast,” Samantha’s mother hooked her arm around her husband’s elbow. “Thank you for taking care of her sunburn, mi vida. That means so much to her old mom.”
Natalia swallowed, looking down into her coffee cup to avoid meeting her earnest eyes. Why did this family feel so comfortable vomiting all their thoughts and emotions all over her? What the hell was wrong with them?
Left standing in the lobby, Natalia struggled to gather herself. All she’d needed was a minute alone, and instead, she’d been on the receiving end of a lethal finishing move. She was spinning, losing her grip despite her best efforts to stay still.
She closed her eyes as if that would kill the magnetic pull. The frenzied tugging of her heart. As if it would dim the shimmering mirage — Samantha with a hand extended promising bounty at the center of a barren desert. Natalia felt hysterical. She was a lost sailor drinking seawater out of desperation. Knowing it would kill her, but filling her parched mouth, anyway.
Turning on her heels, untouched coffee discarded, Natalia was a shot fired. A loosed arrow, immune to reason when given purpose.
Outside, the sun was bright. It warmed her skin and spurred her to move faster. When she reached the villa, her heart was pounding so hard she was sure it wanted to jump ship. To abandon her in the useless pursuit and save itself from her folly.
She found Samantha in the bedroom. In sweats and a sports bra, hair wet from the shower that made the room smell like her, she was ironing a shirt on the small board from the closet.
Sam looked up at her, eyes wide behind her glasses and so full of questions Natalia didn’t want to hear. Before she could speak, Natalia strode toward her.
She grabbed Samantha’s face in both hands and kissed her deeply, urgently. Samantha tensed in surprise before melting into it, the shirt falling forgotten to the floor.
Natalia devoured her lips like she was starved, fingers tangling in her damp hair. Samantha responded in kind, pulling Natalia tight against her body. The kiss obliterated thought, an electric current coursing through every point their bodies connected.
It was complete and intoxicating and terrifying, but Natalia didn’t let herself run from it. She held her tighter and kissed her harder until she’d drowned her fears in Sam’s kiss.
When they finally broke for air, panting, Samantha searched Natalia’s eyes. “Wow. What brought that on?”
Natalia traced her swollen lips with a feather-light touch. “Consider it a warning,” she said, a little more menacing than intended. “When you inevitably end up disappointed in what I have to offer, don’t come complaining to me. I tried to tell you it was going to be a waste of time.”
Samantha’s grin was an exotic flower blooming on her lips and brightening her eyes in the most pulse-pausing way. Damn it.
“Duly noted.” She pulled Natalia close again, nuzzling into her neck, lips grazing her sensitive skin. “But I’m pretty sure you underestimate yourself.”
Natalia wanted to cling to her doubts, but with Samantha’s body pressed against hers, it was impossible. She felt reckless, drunk on this feeling she couldn’t name.
“You’re going to regret this,” Natalia whispered, hands in Samantha’s hair and pulling her closer still.
“I don’t know what I’m looking forward to most.” Sam’s kisses were feather light and brimming with affection where they landed on her jaw and neck and cheek. “Hearing you admit that we’re dating, or watching the magic moment you confess to being so wrong because you’re crazy about me.”
